If you’ve ever been unluckily diagnosed with pink eye, you know just how irritating and uncomfortable it is. Also known as conjunctivitis, pink eye is a viral or bacterial infection that’s highly contagious. It’s often seen in kids, but adults aren’t immune to the pesky infection, either. Luckily, there are quite a few home remedies for pink eye that can help you heal and get back to normal quick.
What is Pink Eye?
Pink eye is an eye infection that results in symptoms such as redness, itching, swelling, and puss-like discharge. It can be either viral or bacterial conjunctivitis, and it’s important you find out which one you have.
Viral pink eye often produces a watery discharge, and starts in one eye, spreading quickly to the other. It’s an airborne virus that’s extremely contagious and can be spread through sneezing or coughing.
Bacterial pink eye is caused by bacteria that effect the eye through contamination. It’s spread through contact with an infected individual, and usually produces a thick eye discharge in one or both eyes. Antibiotics are often required to eliminate bacterial conjunctivitis, but there are also home treatments for pink eye that can help soothe the symptoms.
Keep in mind that if your case of pink eye becomes severe, you should go see your doctor right away. Most cases go away with natural pink eye treatment, but if you’re experiencing severe pain in your eyes, blurred vision, sensitivity to light, or your symptoms get worse or don’t improve, make sure you get looked at by a health care provider ASAP!
Natural Remedies for Pink Eye
If you have a typical, non-severe case of pink eye, natural remedies should be able to help. Here are 8 ways to cure pink eye at home.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Is there anything apple cider vinegar can’t do? That’s right, you can add apple cider vinegar to the list of one of the best natural remedies for pink eye. This doesn’t mean you should go put apple cider vinegar drops in your eyes, but you can diffuse it with warm, sterilized water and clean your eyelid using a cotton ball. Apple cider vinegar is a great disinfectant that can help your eye heal.
Chamomile
Chamomile is another great natural pink eye remedy. It’s extremely calming and has soothing anti-bacterial properties that can help heal your pink eye. Pour boiling water over a chamomile tea bag, wait until it cools, and then place it over your eye for 10 to 15 minutes a few times a day.
Turmeric
Turmeric is known as one of the world’s favourite super foods for a reason, and is truly one of the best natural remedies for conjunctivitis. Turmeric not only reduces inflammation, it also has healing compounds and antibacterial properties that can soothe your pink eye. Boil some water and add two tablespoons of turmeric powder, soak a clean cotton pad or wash cloth and hold it over your infected eye for 10 to 15 minutes.
Cold Compress
Pink eye can be extremely itchy and irritating. A cold compress will soothe the area so you’re not bothered so much by the irritation. Make sure you use purified water, and re-sterilize your water and cloth every time you apply it.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is one of the best home cures for pink eye. Make sure it’s organic and all-natural, like this one for ultimate purifying benefits. Apply it to your eyelid with a clean cotton ball before you go to bed and when you wake up in the morning to combat irritation and itch.
Tulsi
You may know tulsi by its alternate name, holy basil, but either way, you likely know it for its healing power. Tulsi has amazing anti-inflammatory properties, as well as the power to fight viral and bacterial infections in the eyes. All you have to do is soak some tulsi leaves in boiling water for about 10 minutes, soak a clean cotton pad or washcloth and use it as a warm compress.
Green Tea
Green tea can help with everything from swelling to irritation. The bioflavonoids found in green tea fight bacterial and viral infections, while reducing inflammation. You can create a warm compress by making a cup of green tea and soaking a clean wash cloth in it, or you can dip a green tea bag in boiling water and place it on your eye once it’s cooled.
Aloe Vera
Aloe has antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties, so it’s ideal to use for an infection such as pink eye. It can reduce inflammation and accelerate the healing process so you can recover from conjunctivitis as fast as possible. You can use pure Aloe Vera gel around the eye and eyelid, or you can make an eye wash if you have an Aloe Vera plant. Slice off a leaf and peel the leaves, dice it up and place it in a cup of hot water. Allow it to cool and watch the liquid turn a nice green colour, then strain it and use the liquid as an eye wash two to three times a day.
If you or your kids occasionally suffer from pink eye, use these home remedies to get rid of it ASAP! They’ll soothe irritation and relieve symptoms so you can get back to your normal day to day.
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